NEW ORLEANS – Even if Colin Kaepernick’s second start was hardly as spectacular as his first, he played well enough to extend coach Jim Harbaugh’s quarterback quandary for at least another week.
With the 49ers’ defense making big plays of its own, it might not have mattered who was under center.
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Ahmad Brooks and Donte Whitner each returned interceptions for touchdowns, a pass rush led by Aldon Smith sacked Drew Brees five times, and San Francisco ended New Orleans’ three-game winning streak, 31-21 on Sunday.
“We always want to be the best defense on the field, especially on the road,” Whitner said. “When you play us, you are going to get hit. That’s our identity: smart, hard-nose, physical football.”
Kaepernick was solid in his second career start while Alex Smith, deemed healthy enough to suit up after recovering from a concussion, watched from the sideline in uniform. Kaepernick passed for 231 yards, including a short touchdown to Frank Gore. He also ran for a 7-yard score. He threw his first career interception, but it was inconsequential.
“We got a win, so that’s all that really matters,” Kaepernick said.
Niners coach Jim Harbaugh implied the decision to start Kaepernick had more to do with preserving Smith’s long-term health than on performance, but he was noncommittal about who might start next week at St. Louis.
“The fact he had symptoms seven to eight days later, I’m not going to put a guy back out there,” Harbaugh said of Smith. “He eventually got cleared. The plan was to rotate him back into the action (in practice), but not all the way to the front line. … That would give him a chance to get cleared up completely.”
Smith did not seem to think he needed more time, but kept complaints to a minimum.
“Obviously I want to play. I want to start. I think I should, but it’s not my decision,” Smith said. “I’m part of this team and it’s great to go out and get a win.”
Brees finished with 267 yards and three TDs. After rushing for 140 yards or more in each of its previous three games, New Orleans (5-6) managed only 59 yards against San Francisco (8-2-1).
The Niners gained 144 yards on the ground, led by Gore with 83. The Saints shut down tight end Vernon Davis, but the Niners’ other tight end, Delanie Walker, had three catches for 81 yards, including one for 45 yards to set up a touchdown.
San Francisco’s interceptions came during a 21-0 spurt that turned a 14-7 deficit into a 28-14 lead.
Brooks snagged the first, returning it 50 yards late in the first half to tie the game at 14.
The second came on Brees’ first pass of the second half. The ball deflected off Colston’s hands as the leaping receiver was upended and briefly shaken up. Whitner snagged the deflected pass and returned it 42 yards to make it 28-14.
Since losing to the New York Giants on Oct. 14, the Niners are 5-0-1.
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